The pardon

By: Elián Zidán

By forgiving Hunter, the president set aside the office of the presidency and did what any father would do to protect his family.

Without a doubt, this must have been one of the most difficult decisions of his life—both as a father and as president.

Fully aware of the political and social fallout his decision would cause, this 82-year-old father chose to retract his previous statements and sacrifice his legacy for the sake of his family.

As expected, the decision was met with rejection, not only from Trump and the Republicans but also from many Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who expressed his disappointment, saying he had trusted the president's word.

However, we must remember that this is not the first time a president, in their final days in office, has used their power to protect a family member or close associate.

Looking back at history, since 1865, when Abraham Lincoln was president, while he didn’t pardon a family member, he made extensive use of the powers granted to him by the office.

Similarly, in 1974, Gerald Ford granted a full pardon to Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal.

When it comes to pardoning family members, let’s not forget that on the last day of his presidency, Bill Clinton signed 140 pardons, including one for his half-brother Roger Clinton, who had been convicted of cocaine possession and drug trafficking. A month after receiving the pardon, Roger was arrested for DUI.

Donald Trump, for his part, has been vocal in criticizing Joe Biden’s decision. This is particularly interesting because, in December 2020, Trump himself pardoned a family member—his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner, who had been convicted in 2005 for crimes such as illegal campaign contributions and tax evasion.

Despite his criminal history, Trump nominated Kushner to be the U.S. Ambassador to France, praising his leadership and philanthropic qualities.

Without question, this decision will mark a pivotal moment in Joe Biden's presidency. Initially, when he said he wouldn't pardon his son, it was likely out of concern for his legacy. But after reflecting, he may have realized that by forgiving Hunter, he was protecting the only son he had left.

Ultimately, Joe Biden's decision to forgive his son is more than just a political move—it’s a reflection of the eternal conflict between public duty and family loyalty. In a time of extreme political polarization, the president has chosen the more human side of the scale, sacrificing his legacy for the well-being of his family.

Perhaps, in his mind, history may not be kind to his presidency, but for a father, the forgiveness of his son may be the only thing that truly matters.

After all, no power or prestige outweighs the life and well-being of a loved one.

What would you have done?